Milford officials ponder Middle School East building use

Monday

Mar 24, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Lindsay CorcoranDaily News Staff

MILFORD – While Middle School East won’t be vacated until the construction of the new Woodland Elementary School is complete, town officials are already considering options for the building's future.In discussing financing for the Woodland School that was approved last month, selectmen talked about forming a committee specifically to explore options for the Middle School East building, at 45 Main St., that will be vacated when the new school opens in September 2016.One option may include the building becoming a satellite campus for a community college.No committee has been formed, but the Industrial Development Committee is already introducing an idea for the building.Town Planner Larry Dunkin told the commission last week that he thinks the building would be a perfect location for a satellite campus of a community college."When Quinsigamond Community College (in Worcester) was looking for a satellite campus four years ago, we were able to get Milford in the mix," Dunkin said. "But there was nowhere for them to go if they wanted to."Dunkin said the empty school would provide the right location for a school and the town, since it would bring college students to Milford’s downtown."The timing should be right, by the time it's vacant, Quinsigamond Community College will be looking for a satellite campus again," Dunkin said. "I still think they would do well here. The demographics would work out. Milford is a sub-regional center and a housing center."He said there is also a possibility that MassBay Community College may be interested in a satellite campus.The Industrial Development Commission agreed with Dunkin’s assessment and plans to send a letter to selectmen suggesting that they consider leasing the school to a community college for a satellite campus.Superintendent Robert Tremblay sent a letter to selectmen calling for discussions on the future of the building to begin and asking to be included on any task force or committee."In conferring with Town Counsel on the possible declaration of Middle School East as a surplus school building, it is my understanding that it would be premature to take an action," Tremblay wrote. "It seems that conversations around the future use of that building should begin as soon as possible."Dunkin said he’d also like to see commission members take part in the discussions to decide what happens with the school building.Contact Lindsay Corcoran at 508-634-7582 or lcorcoran@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @LacorcMDN.